Lupin the 3rd

CosmicDebris

Kind of sad about Kiyoshi Kobayashi retiring being the last of the original cast. Monkey Punch is gone too, so it's a whole new era of next generation people making Lupin now.
That said, I'm also a bit relieved because he was honestly started to sound too tired to play Jigen, so it was almost taking me out of it to hear him.

So, I watched Dead or Alive last night. The art style is kind of hard to look at, though far from the worst. Kind of reminds me of a lot of cartoons I watched in the late 80s. Yet, there are some really nice sequences, artistically done.
I like that Zenigata is actually competent in this one. Unfortunately Goemon, as per usual, does almost nothing.
Plot was decent, but one thing ruined it for me

! Here is this super high tech sci-fi nanomachine computer, its creator makes his son the one thing that can control it so that nobody else can misuse it, yet….it's easily fooled by someone in a costume.....

wolfwood

The way Lupin movies keep having multiple titles has tripped me up more than once. I kept thinking i hadn't seen Fujikos unlucky day, but it was da capo of love aka columbus files. But yeah island of assains is alright, not great in my opinion, but different enough to warrant a watch. It's a bit serious and moody for my taste. And i'm not a huge fan of the Lupin girl from that film

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@CosmicDebris:

Kind of sad about Kiyoshi Kobayashi retiring being the last of the original cast. Monkey Punch is gone too, so it's a whole new era of next generation people making Lupin now.
That said, I'm also a bit relieved because he was honestly started to sound too tired to play Jigen, so it was almost taking me out of it to hear him.

So, I watched Dead or Alive last night. The art style is kind of hard to look at, though far from the worst. Kind of reminds me of a lot of cartoons I watched in the late 80s. Yet, there are some really nice sequences, artistically done.
I like that Zenigata is actually competent in this one. Unfortunately Goemon, as per usual, does almost nothing.
Plot was decent, but one thing ruined it for me

! Here is this super high tech sci-fi nanomachine computer, its creator makes his son the one thing that can control it so that nobody else can misuse it, yet….it's easily fooled by someone in a costume.....

Except terrify you with his bishounen butt chin. Goy-eh-mon should never look like that guy from sex and the city. The art direction on the main cast isn't great as a whole, but they did the samurai especially wrong

CosmicDebris

@wolfwood:

Except terrify you with his bishounen butt chin. Goy-eh-mon should never look like that guy from sex and the city. The art direction on the main cast isn't great as a whole, but they did the samurai especially wrong

lol, yeah I was thinking exactly that as I watched it. The rest of the cast was on model well enough but Goemon looked very wrong.

Daz

Just got done watching islands of Assassins. I pretty much loved it; you've got escalating jokes (DON'T WALK), you've got clear stakes, you've got pathos, you've got twists, you've got good animation and action (is the "Lupin theme plays during cool action climax" a series trope? Please tell me it is), but most joyously, theres some real good set-up and payoff going on here. Particularly by the end the payoffs just kept coming (Jigen: "Why did you choose red?" Me: "…Oh! Because of the food! It reminded him of the food!!!" Goemon: "Because food", fuck yes). Like, I just found it a really tight screnplay, especially after Nostradamus. That movie felt extremely scatterbrained, immediately dismantling any obstacles it established - "Oh Lupin has been shot and has fallen out a helicopter into shark filled waters with airborne assasins above! How exciting, how is he - oh, the sharks don't eat him for some reason and he somehow is able to just hold onto one as it swims away with him to safety...huh" Here, the obstacles matter, and need to be elaboratedly circumvented - I thought the space laser would be some throwaway thing, but it really mattered!

Robby

@Daz:

(is the "Lupin theme plays during cool action climax" a series trope? Please tell me it is

They tend to use that for the opening action sequence rather than the endings, since its such a good mood setter. But it does pop up for the finales sometimes.

wolfwood

If you liked the darker tone of that film you might enjoy the a woman called Fujiko Mine series of films. They are quite gory (and a little rapey), with a drab color scheme and a more serious tone. Goemon fights an unkillable lumberjack in one, and Jigen gets chased by cyborg Karl Lagerfeld in another.

pariston_hill

@wolfwood:

If you liked the darker tone of that film you might enjoy the a woman called Fujiko Mine series of films. They are quite gory (and a little rapey), with a drab color scheme and a more serious tone. Goemon fights an unkillable lumberjack in one, and Jigen gets chased by cyborg Karl Lagerfeld in another.

And they

! all are modified human clones farmed in an assassin island.

Robby

@wolfwood:

If you liked the darker tone of that film you might enjoy the a woman called Fujiko Mine series of films. They are quite gory (and a little rapey), with a drab color scheme and a more serious tone. Goemon fights an unkillable lumberjack in one, and Jigen gets chased by cyborg Karl Lagerfeld in another.

I know I have to get to those eventually… but there's a reason they are literally the very last thing on the checklist. I really didn't like the Fujiko series at all beyond how it looked and I just don't know that I want to deal with three (probably eventually four) movies from the same team.

Maybe I could rewatch all the other stuff first. That'll stall for 20 years or so if my first go through is any indication.

Maybe I can hunt down Lupin the Seventh.

pariston_hill

@Robby:

I know I have to get to those eventually… but there's a reason they are literally the very last thing on the checklist. I really didn't like the Fujiko series at all beyond how it looked and I just don't know that I want to deal with three (probably eventually four) movies from the same team.

I also had some issues with Fujiko series, but having seen the three movies the only REAL connection between the series is the art style, and being more open to adult themes (nudity and explicit violence).

wolfwood

I want to say that Jigen's gravestone hits the best balance out of that lot, but that unfortunate inflatable gimp rape scene in the middle really draws down the experience. But i'm a sucker for a good Jigen story so i'll let it slide. But even 1960's monkey punch would've thought that scene was too much

aku-chan

I quite liked Goemons Blood Spray, until he started getting bits of his arms sliced off, never could face watching the third one after that.

wolfwood

Fujikos lie honestly is pretty tame compared to the other two, but it's just not fun. The weird almond eating albino isn't a very entertaining villain, i mean Jaws reincarnated as a Canadian lumberjack isn't big on personality either but he is at least an interesting visual. And Karl Lagerfeld has a little bit of both but mostly style. And Fujiko has an annoying child in it too, and you guys know how i feel about annoying kid sidekicks.

CosmicDebris

I am not being sold on those particular movies here.

wolfwood

@CosmicDebris:

I am not being sold on those particular movies here.

We're just trying to appeal to Daz's more depraved sensibilities y'know:ninja:

Green_vs_Red

I’ll give them a shot since I still got a lot of specials and movies to catch up and either like, hate, or be indifferent too.

Shiebs

Is Goemon’s blood spray worth watching? I saw it had a killer fight scene in it but not sure if it’s worth watching outside of that?

aku-chan

@Shiebs:

Is Goemon’s blood spray worth watching? I saw it had a killer fight scene in it but not sure if it’s worth watching outside of that?

I liked it (Even if I did find the final fight hard to watch), but there's very little in the Lupin catalogue I don't like, so I'm probably not the best person to give out recommendations.

wolfwood

It's not very much like the other films, so i guess it depends on how much like Goemon, fights, samurai honor:ing, yakuza, people getting violently dismembered and Fujiko hitting a bong (gasp!). Nah but it is okay-ish in my opinion, i'm glad i watched it but i probably won't be watching it again very soon. It's visual spectacle that is pretty light on plot and interactions, the villain doesn't talk or emote much, Jigen and Lupin literally just watch things unfold and Fujiko is eh around i guess.

Robby

I'd forgotten how bad pink jacket Fujiko looked.

Green_vs_Red

I’ve watched part 1 all the way through probably 3 times and I never noticed in the first episode that Jigen wears spats.

Who was wearing spats in the 70’s?

wolfwood

He was bringing them back. Fashion trends? Who needs 'em when you got five identical hats and a cheap suit.

That shinto vampire bit always cracks me up. Can't watch that pink jacket one tho, i'm in the middle of that one and i don't want ruin the well that was weird feeling y'know.

Nobodyman

@Green_vs_Red:

I’ve watched part 1 all the way through probably 3 times and I never noticed in the first episode that Jigen wears spats.

Who was wearing spats in the 70’s?

Fred Astaire? …Maybe?

Green_vs_Red

@wolfwood:

He was bringing them back. Fashion trends? Who needs 'em when you got five identical hats and a cheap suit.

That shinto vampire bit always cracks me up. Can't watch that pink jacket one tho, i'm in the middle of that one and i don't want ruin the well that was weird feeling y'know.

Just as well seeing as how for some reason they essentially remade the popcorn rocket episode you hated from part 2.

@Nobodyman:

Fred Astaire? …Maybe?

Maybe Joker….but Jigen is neither a dancer or a homicidal clown.

wolfwood

@Green_vs_Red:

Just as well seeing as how for some reason they essentially remade the popcorn rocket episode you hated from part 2.

What would drive a man to lie like this?

Green_vs_Red

The desire to lie horizontally after be tired as shit:ninja:

CosmicDebris

I just watched the whole green jacket series for the first time and I feel like there's a lot of things I want to say about it, but all I can think of right now is

Lupin
He's a nice man
But he's cool
You know, he uses Walther
Yeah
The machine cries,"Bang bang."
Yeah, he's the Lupin the Third.
Nice man
Yeah, he smiles
And he gets angry….sometimes.
But...he's a groovy guy.
Yeah
Lupin the Third
Go. Go, man.
You got to...feel it
Yeah, Lupin
Yeah, Lupin
You're great

CosmicDebris

Speaking of part I, looks like it's going to be dubbed in English finally. https://www.lupincentral.com/home/sentai-filmworks-announce-part-i-dub-and-cinema-screenings

wolfwood

Wait wut? Really?

Sano

I'm actually cool with Lupin, Part 1 getting an dub. I just like getting more Lupin dubs with the Geneon/Parts 4 and 5 cast.

Green_vs_Red

@CosmicDebris:

I just watched the whole green jacket series for the first time and I feel like there's a lot of things I want to say about it, but all I can think of right now is

Lupin
He's a nice man
But he's cool
You know, he uses Walther
Yeah
The machine cries,"Bang bang."
Yeah, he's the Lupin the Third.
Nice man
Yeah, he smiles
And he gets angry….sometimes.
But...he's a groovy guy.
Yeah
Lupin the Third
Go. Go, man.
You got to...feel it
Yeah, Lupin
Yeah, Lupin
You're great

Earworm lol .

aku-chan

Urgh… Made the mistake of watching the Return Of Pycal special.

It usually takes a lot for me to dislike a piece of the Lupin franchise, but that nonsensical pile of still shots, lousy early 00's CGI and naked ladies managed it quite easily.

pariston_hill

Episode 0 of Part VI aired. Farewell old man, you earned your rest.

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Might be the three doubles talking but it was pretty nice to share a drink to Jigen. Now...

! Come on is HERLOCK SHOLMES. Don't betray the source by using the inferior Conan Doyle detective.

Green_vs_Red

@aku-chan:

Urgh… Made the mistake of watching the Return Of Pycal special.

It usually takes a lot for me to dislike a piece of the Lupin franchise, but that nonsensical pile of still shots, lousy early 00's CGI and naked ladies managed it quite easily.

pariston_hill

Yep, it's gonna take a while to get used to the new Jigen VA.

wolfwood

Dunno, he sounds a little like green jacket Jigen to me, which softens the blow a bit.

Robby

I'm waiting for the dub anyway. Just like I did for series 4 and 5.

The Japanese is great of course, and that's pretty much how I've seen most of the movies, but the Geneon cast is just SO good, they're my preferred group. Tony Oliver just IS Lupin, his is the voice I hear when I think of the character. Though he doesn't quite do the "in pain" sounds japanese Lupin does like when he touches something hot and goes "ya cha cha cha" but that is what it is.

It is a real shame that cast has never done a Cagliostro dub, and presumably never will.

Sano

I'm going to be waiting for Sentai's home video release for Part 6. I agree, the Pioneer/Geneon cast are so perfect for these characters.

wolfwood

A bit into pink jacket all i can say is that it feels like a fair attempt at a revamp, constantly hampered by it's bizarre sense of style, meh music pieces and goofier feel. Like in the hands of a not coked out art director this could've turned out respectable. But i mean stuff has to change and evolve, and this is one way to go about it, but it didn't pan out. Gotta admire the balls to try something weird tho, and i mean it has so far had some alright eps. But Fujiko looks even more off than a Miyazaki episode, which is suprisingly distracting. Like she doesn't really have a nailed down look to begin with, but my mind cannot process this as a take on Fujiko, it feels like the designers weird OC tags along all the time y'know

@aku-chan:

Urgh… Made the mistake of watching the Return Of Pycal special.

It usually takes a lot for me to dislike a piece of the Lupin franchise, but that nonsensical pile of still shots, lousy early 00's CGI and naked ladies managed it quite easily.

It is somehow worse on re-watch, despite me remembering this as being utter garbage to begin with. The CGI stabs my eyes and the there is literally nothing there to engage your mind. Not popcorn machine bad, but it is down there with the crap Lupins

pariston_hill

The fact that I can perfectly hear the "ya cha cha cha" says how well I was adjusted to the former VA line up. But I've only seen Cagliostro and from Fujiko sereis onwards, so…

CosmicDebris

@wolfwood:

A bit into pink jacket all i can say is that it feels like a fair attempt at a revamp, constantly hampered by it's bizarre sense of style, meh music pieces and goofier feel. Like in the hands of a not coked out art director this could've turned out respectable. But i mean stuff has to change and evolve, and this is one way to go about it, but it didn't pan out. Gotta admire the balls to try something weird tho, and i mean it has so far had some alright eps. But Fujiko looks even more off than a Miyazaki episode, which is surprisingly distracting. Like she doesn't really have a nailed down look to begin with, but my mind cannot process this as a take on Fujiko, it feels like the designers weird OC tags along all the time y'know

I watched a bit of pink jacket recently too…but later on, when I guess the art style gets even goofier. I was recommended episodes 30-40-something and most of them were actually decent. Except the one with the dolphin that wanted to marry Lupin.
The art style is gross, though. Fujiko looks like ass.

I'm kind of obsessed with the closing credits. There's a really strong nostalgic quality to it. The moment I saw it, I felt like I had seen it before in the 80s, though that seems very unlikely. I suppose it just looks like stuff I watched in the 80s. 84-85 was the pinnacle of that nostalgia for me. Not to mention there's a sign for 94.7 KMET "The Mighty Met" which was a real station in LA that I used to listen to.

Green_vs_Red

@CosmicDebris:

Fujiko looks like ass.

Pointy chin and weird hair isn’t doing it for you?

CosmicDebris

@Green_vs_Red:

Pointy chin and weird hair isn’t doing it for you?

It's the eyes. They look…off

Green_vs_Red

I mean everything is off.

wolfwood

@CosmicDebris:

I watched a bit of pink jacket recently too…but later on, when I guess the art style gets even goofier. I was recommended episodes 30-40-something and most of them were actually decent. Except the one with the dolphin that wanted to marry Lupin.
The art style is gross, though. Fujiko looks like ass.

I'm kind of obsessed with the closing credits. There's a really strong nostalgic quality to it. The moment I saw it, I felt like I had seen it before in the 80s, though that seems very unlikely. I suppose it just looks like stuff I watched in the 80s. 84-85 was the pinnacle of that nostalgia for me. Not to mention there's a sign for 94.7 KMET "The Mighty Met" which was a real station in LA that I used to listen to.

Oh god it gets worse looking? I'm at like episode 20 and it's not exactly a prize now.

It is kind of weird because Lupin has always had kind of a goofy cartoony side to it, but at it's best it is kind of subdued, does real life cartoon make sense? Like there is for the most part a realistic enough tone to it all but people get blown up by bombs and walk away with soot on their face and all. But in pink jacket is kind of veers toward being just a cartoon. Dunno if that makes any sense just stream of thoughting it today

Sano

On TMS official youtube channel this weekend, they are going have the english dub premiere of Lupin the 3rd, Part 1.

Shiebs

I finished part 4

Oh man I really enjoyed this series, definitely gonna check out part 5 as soon as possible then go see some movies

The main cast is so damn enjoyable, and the premise of the story of a band of thieves who steal for the hell of it is simple enough that you can basically justify making this series till the end of time with different approaches to the story by different writers and keep it going as long as possible as long as the quality remains at a constant level and nothing to earth shattering happens

Robby

@Shiebs:

as long as the quality remains at a constant level and nothing to earth shattering happens

Fair warning. Part 5 (and 6) is the same crew as 4 so the quality is pretty much the same, but if you branch out past that the quality is going to vary wildly as you see more of the franchise. Some of them are fantastic, some are awful.

Most fall somewhere in the middle though. Series 4 is more or less the usual quality.

Robby

Do they jhust have original source audio from 30 years ago that they keep relacing slightly different instrumentals over? I swear the vocals at least haven't changed in ages.

Because this is different yet exactly the same. I know there's been a range of remixes over the years but they've really settled into beingclose to this one always.

Same with Cutey Honey.

Hey Wolfy, you ever seen Cutie Honey? Its a little bit magical girl an da lot T&A, but it might be up your alley. It's got a lot of the same DNA as Lupin, though… obviously not quite the same thing.

Nidhoeggr

I always enjoy catching the rare new Cutie Honey content once it arrives; it may be dated for many but it's still always good for a fun time.

What really surprises me though is how small Lupin is in the current Western anime community. Not even the anime Youtubers talk about it very much, which is weird. They usually talk about every bloody terrible isekai that is even slightly popular and claim to enjoy sakuga, interesting arcs, etc. - and yet, the new Lupin series who arguably look amazing compared to most seasonals, have engaging overarching plots for the first time along with great episodic storytelling and feature lots of good comedy don't get credit at all.

Robby

That's for the same reason no one here talks about Saint Saiya. It missed the window to hit when it was still current, so it has the proper decades of build up and nostalgia for it. But in Mexico, they got Seiya in the early 80's when the animation wasn't super dated yet, and its huge there.

But the first impression anyone here got of Lupin was the old clunky looking 70's version. Which I love but I was already a fan. And so even with an almost gag-dub, it just sort of settled in as "old" and "Japan likes it because they've always liked it."

Just imagine if Gundam had tried to hit here with the original series, instead of starting with Wing? Then after Wing they did a couple more of the contemporary shows… but then they for some insane reason tried to do the originals, and that just killed all its momentum. 20 years later no one gives a crap about Gundam except the existing fans that got hooked back in the day, its really hard to convince someone to give a shot at whatever new Gundam thing is going on.

Lupin is perennial, but its not excitingl. There will always be more. If you're a fan then you're already there, if you're not? You can miss whatever Lupin is doing this year and try it next year. it's by default just... not current. Even if the quality is basically the best and most consistent its ever been.